For the membership at the Torrington Country Club, the long wait is over. The Connecticut Open golf championship returns to the course in Goshen today, and the locals are anxious to see how the finest players in the state, and some from Westchester Country, handle the challenge.

"The state's best will be here and we are anxious to see how the course stacks up," said Torrington pro Glenn Carlson, who will play in the championship. "The course is in exceptional condition, and the recent rain helped. Tee to green it is exceptional."

The club was founded in 1926 and the course was completed in 1932. It is a par 72, 6,536 yards and has been groomed by superintendent Ed Goodhouse to challenged the talented field.

"The course is not known for length," said Carlson, "but we are known for the greens, fast and undulating. You have to keep the ball below the hole. They will be 10.5 to 11 (on the stimpmeter) and with the undulations, they will be very quick."

Any balls off the fairway will be settling down into some lush, heavy, 5-inch rough.

"That's the way we want it," said Carlson. "If you miss the green, it will be very difficult to chip."

This will be the third time the Connecticut State Golf Association has visited Torrington for the Open. The last was in 1962, when it took an extra day to complete before Bob Cloughen of Ridgewood defeated amateur Robert Allen of Wampanoag in an 18-hole playoff.

They had tied at nine-under 207 after three rounds, the last on July 17, and came back to play 18 holes on Sunday, July 22. Cloughen cruised past Allen in the playoff, shooting 74 to Allen's 80. Cloughen got to the playoff with rounds of 70-67-70. Allen matched that with rounds of 70-69-68.

In that championship, the legendary Stan Staszowski of Green Woods tied for 6th low pro with rounds of 72-74-73.

The other Connecticut Open at Torrington was in August of 1946, the 12th championship conducted by the CSGA, and the first after a four-year break during World War II. It was a 72-hole event, with amateur F.J. Torza of Wethersfield winning by three shots with rounds of 77-76-70-70. He finished three shots in front of Connecticut Hall of Famer Eddie Burke of Race Brook. Torrington's Frank Staszowski finished fifth with rounds of 75-77-72-74 that year.

In more recent times, Torrington has hosted the Connecticut Amateur in 1994 and 2006. Fairfield's J.J. Henry, a 12-year member of the PGA Tour won the 1994 championship, the first of his three victories in the Amateur. The 2006 champion at Torrington was Tommy McDonagh of Norwalk. He is back this year as a professional.

"The members are very excited about this," said Carlson, "we are looking to put our best foot forward."

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